Question

In areas where it rains often, mosses grow on roofs. How do mosses survive on roofs without soil?

a) Mosses extract nutrients from rainwater.
b) Mosses use photosynthesis to produce nutrients.
c) Mosses form associations with insects for nutrients.
d) Mosses receive nutrients from the roof material.

Answer 1

Mosses can survive on roofs without soil because they can directly absorb water and nutrients through their leaves, possess a primitive conductive system, and can quickly resume activity after desiccation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mosses are able to survive on roofs without soil because they possess a unique set of adaptations to their environment. Unlike vascular plants, mosses don't rely on an extensive root system for nutrient uptake. Instead, mosses absorb water and nutrients directly through their leaves. Their rhizoids allow them to anchor to substrates such as roof tiles but are not primarily used for nutrient absorption. They absorb nutrients from dust particles, solutes dissolved in rainwater, or solutes added to the precipitation as it flows over surfaces before reaching the moss. When it rains often, these factors contribute to a suitable habitat for mosses to thrive, even without soil. This capability can be attributed to their primitive conductive system and the adaptation to quickly resume metabolic activity upon rehydration after periods of desiccation.